Members of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN), popularly known as Shiites and led by Sheikh Ibrahim El-Zakzaky, took to the streets of Niger State on Sunday, March 1, 2026, to protest the reported killing of Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
The demonstration followed news of Khamenei's death in a joint United States–Israel airstrike on Iran on Saturday, February 28, 2026.
Iranian state media and international reports, including confirmations from U.S. President Donald Trump, verified that the 86-year-old leader was assassinated during large-scale military strikes targeting high-ranking Iranian officials in Tehran.
In videos circulating online, dozens of IMN members marched through parts of the state, chanting slogans such as “Freedom to Iran,” “Death to America,” and other anti-U.S. and anti-Israel messages.
Protesters waved Iranian flags and carried placards with inscriptions like “We Stand With Iran,” expressing solidarity with Iran and condemning the attack as an act of “imperial aggression” and injustice against the global Muslim community.
The protest was described as peaceful in most reports, though similar demonstrations by Shiite groups occurred in other northern Nigerian states, including Gombe, Kano, Bauchi, Yobe, and Sokoto, over the same issue.
Khamenei, who had ruled Iran since 1989, was a central figure in the country's theocratic system and a key spiritual leader for many Shiites worldwide.
His death has plunged Iran into national mourning, with the government declaring 40 days of public observance, while sparking global reactions ranging from condemnation and calls for de-escalation to celebrations in some quarters.
The IMN's action highlights the strong ideological ties between the Nigerian Shiite movement and Iran's leadership, amid ongoing regional tensions following the strikes.
Authorities in Niger State maintained security presence during the march, with no immediate reports of major incidents in the state capital or other areas.
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